Solar Thermal
Solar thermal systems are used to directly heat water.
Solar water heating systems use solar panels, called collectors, fitted to your roof. These collect heat from the sun and use it to warm water which is stored in a hot water cylinder.
There are two types of solar water heating panels, they are evacuated tubes and flat plate collectors. Flat plates collectors can be fixed on the roof tiles or integrated into the roof.
A boiler or immersion heater can be used as a back up to heat the water further to reach the temperature set by the cylinders thermostat when the solar water heating system does not reach that temperature.
What are the benefits of installing Solar Thermal?
Reduce your carbon footprint - solar hot water is a green, renewable heating system and can reduce your carbon dioxide emissions.
Reduce your energy bills - sunlight is free, so once you've paid for the initial installation your hot water costs will be reduced.
Hot water throughout the year - the system works all year round, though you'll need to heat the water further with a boiler or immersion heater during the winter months.
This information has been taken from the Energy Saving Trust website. For more information please click here.
How does Solar Themal Work?
Key
A.Solar Collector.
B.Cylinder with Solar Coil at the bottom and coil for boiler at the top.
C.Boiler or other space heating source.
D.Hot water tap.
E.Cold water mains in.
F.Pump station used to circulate water from the collector to the user application.
G.Controller uses temperature sensors to monitor heat differences between the collector and the water in the tank and switches the pump on and off accordingly.
H.Expansion vessel to contain increased water volume in the system due to rise in temperature and hence increased pressure, of water.
The main components of a solar hot water system are the dual coil cylinder, the pump station, and the collector.
Collectors are either flat plate or evacuated tube.
A flat-plate collector is a large, shallow box—typically mounted on a roof, that heats water using the suns energy.
Evacuated tubes absorb solar energy and convert it into heat for use in water heating.
Solar radiation is absorbed by the collector, heating the water either directly (the water is pumped through a manifold connected to the collector) or indirectly (the domestic water is heated by a heat-transfer fluid).
The controller switches the pump on when the difference between the temperature on the roof and the temperature at the bottom of the cylinder is sufficiently large (typically 10 degrees). The pump circulates water or heat transfer fluid around the system and heat is transferred from the roof into the bottom of the tank.
A boiler or immersion heater can be used as a back up to heat the water further to reach the temperature you want.
